Introduction

Six year old Mary sat in her chair quietly while her kindergarden classmates told stories of the many fights they had with their brothers and sisters. Mary, being an only child, couldn't relate to her classmates feelings because she had never experienced having a sibling. After hearing the stories from the other children, Mary was happy that she was the only child. She was glad she didn't have to share her parent's affection along with her room full of toys. While some children are happy being the only child, others would rather have the full time company of a brother or sister.

The Quest

How do only children differ from children with one or more siblings?

The Process and Resources

In this WebQuest you will be working together with a group of students in class. Each group will answer the Task or Quest(ion). As a member of the group you will explore Webpages from people all over the world who care about BEING THE ONLY CHILD. Because these are real Webpages we're tapping into, not things made just for schools, the reading level might challenge you. Feel free to use the online Webster dictionary or one in your classroom.

You'll begin with everyone in your group getting some background before dividing into roles where people on your team become experts on one part of the topic.

Phase 1 - Background: Something for Everyone

Use the Internet information linked below to answer the basic questions of who? what? where? when? why? and how? Be creative in exploring the information so that you answer these questions as fully and insightfully as you can.

#1 The Only Child

1. Can you list the three main reasons families in today's society have only one child?

2. Why do you think having only one child would give parents a financial advantage?

3. Can you elaborate on the reason why only children tend to score high on measures of intelligence?


#2 Tips for Raising an Only Child

1. What ideas justify that play groups can replace the gap of being without any siblings?

2. Why would it be a good idea to teach your child how to entertain themselves sometimes?

3. Can you elaborate on the reason why only children should have a large amount of physical and emotional space from their parents?

• The only child. - Information can be obtained on different ways that only children differ from children with one or more siblings. Some of the areas include intelligence, achievment, and self esteem.
• Tips to raising an only child - This site contains many helpful tips on raising an only child. It also gives information on how households today have favored having one child.
• Only Child Introduction - This site is an introduction to being an only child, giving facts and statistics of only child households today.

Phase 2 - Looking Deeper from Different Perspectives

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Individuals or pairs from your larger WebQuest team will explore one of the roles below.

2. Read through the files linked to your group. If you print out the files, underline the passages that you feel are the most important. If you look at the files on the computer, copy sections you feel are important by dragging the mouse across the passage and copying / pasting it into a word processor or other writing software.

3. Note: Remember to write down or copy/paste the URL of the file you take the passage from so you can quickly go back to it if you need to to prove your point.

4. Be prepared to focus what you've learned into one main opinion that answers the Big Quest(ion) or Task based on what you have learned from the links for your role.

Parent

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Parents :

#1 Advantages of being an only child

1. Why would parents of the 21st century choose to have only one child?

2. How does having an only child affect parents financially?

3. How does the concern of a good education affect a parent's decision to have one or more children?

4. What is your opinion of families who decide to have only one child?

5. What ideas justify that if the parent is happy having only one child then the only child will be happy also?


#2 More families opt for having only one child

1. What judgment would you make about only children being labeled as spoiled and selfish?

2. Why do you think an only child would prefer to have a sibling when it comes to doing the house chores?

3. How do you think being an only child would affect one as an adult?

4. Why do you think sharing is a big issue with an only child?

5. Would it be better to have more than one child so the child won't be lonely at home?


#3 Raising An Only Child

1. What ideas justify that an only child rather than a multiple may have higher self esteem as they get older?

2. Why do you think there are so many misconceptions about only children?

3. Why might parents feel obligated to have more than one child?

4. What ideas show that single child families will soon become the norm?

5. Can you list a few famous only children?

• Advantages of being an only child. - The information retained from this site contains reasons why couples these days prefer to have an only child rather than multiple children. Reasons are also given on why the only child recieves many atvantages as well as how society's point of view on parents with one child has changed in time.
• More families opt for having only one child. - This site gives information on why many families prefer having only one child. It also contains feelings from children who are only children and also those who have one or more siblings.
• Raising An Only Child - This website contains an article about a family deciding whether or not they should have more than one child and why.

An Only Child

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to An Only Child :

#1 Birth Order : Only Children

1. List the five common personality traits of an only child.

2. Why do you think an only child spends most of their time around adults?

3. List some of the familiar feelings only children tend to have.

4. How does being the only child affect them emotionally?

#2 Being An Only Child

1. Why do you think only children feel lonely sometimes?

2. How do children without siblings feel about being the only child?

3. Can you recall ever being lonely or sad because you don't have a brother or sister?

#3 11 Year Old Only Child Having Sleep Problems

1. Why do you think an only child may have sleeping problems?

2. Can you list any ways to make sleeping easier on an only child?

3. How can the stress of being an only child lead to sleeping problems?

• Birth Order : Only Children - This site lists a few famous men and woman who are only children, common feelings as an only child, and also common personality traits.
• Being An Only Child - This site gives children a better understanding of what an only child is along with common stereotypes, feelings, atvantages, and disatvantages.
• 11 Year Old Only Child Having Sleep Problems - This site contains an article about an 11 year old only child who has sleep problems. The article was written by a parent and advice was given by another.

Teacher

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to a Teacher :

#1 The Dilemma of the Only Child

1. How do you think an only child could master social skills?

2. Why do you think play groups would be a valuable opportunity for children to strengthen their social skills?

3. Why do you think only children may tend to learn to be children on their own?

• The Dilemma of the Only Child - This site discusses the stereotypes of only children, how they interact socially, and how their enviroment affects their actions.

Psychologist or Doctor

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to a Psychologist :

#1 The Only Child Decision

1. How do families having children in today's generation differ from those twenty years ago?

2. Why would increasing divorce rates have an affect on single child families becoming more common?

3. Why would having only one child cause stereotypes and pre-judgments?


#2 Psycholigst and mother says bigger is not always better

1. How does having more one on one time with a child affect their general happiness along with their academic ability?

2. List the growing reasons parents are choosing to have only one child.

3. Why do you think some parents who have siblings of their own decide to have only one child themselves?


#3 Tips for Parenting the Only Child

1. List the three positive aspects of raising an only child.

2. What are the three common dynamics that parents face when raising only one?

3. Can you list a few of the negatives that might develop when an only child doesn't have the opportunity to interact with siblings?

4. Why do you think parents who are raising one child would want to connect with other familys who are doing the same?

• The Only Child Decision - This site gives information on the increasing growth of single child families today and why these families have chosen to have only one child.
• Psychologist - and mother - says bigger is not always better - This website provides the research of a psychologist and mother on the trend of having only one child,
• Tips for Parenting the Only Child - This article contains advice for parents raising an only child as well as the positive and negative aspects of having only one.

Phase 3 - Debating, Discussing, and Reaching Consensus

You have all learned about a different part of BEING THE ONLY CHILD. Now group members come back to the larger WebQuest team with expertise gained by searching from one perspective. You must all now answer the Task / Quest(ion) as a group. Each of you will bring a certain viewpoint to the answer: some of you will agree and others disagree. Use information, pictures, movies, facts, opinions, etc. from the Webpages you explored to convince your teammates that your viewpoint is important and should be part of your team's answer to the Task / Quest(ion). Your WebQuest team should write out an answer that everyone on the team can live with.

Phase 4 - Real World Feedback

You and your teammates have learned a lot by dividing up into different roles. Now's the time to put your learning into a letter you'll send out for real world feedback. Together you will write a letter that contains opinions, information, and perspectives that you've gained. Here's the process:

1. For my first real world feedback I performed a survey on 20 high school students asking if they were an only child or a sibling. This survey also showed whether or not they liked being an only child or a sibling. Nine out of twenty were the only child and eleven out of twenty had one or more siblings. When asked whether they like being the only child all nine people said yes while four of the people with siblings said they would rather be without a brother or sister.

2. The second real world assessment is to make an informational poster board on being an only child. This poster or collage should include statistics, facts, stereotypes, and interesting information to help an only child or a parent learn more about having only one child.

3. The third is to make a questionnaire containing 10 questions you could use to interview an only child or someone who grew up being the only child.

Your Contact is: Stacey Wichman

Conclusion

Being the only child is nothing like it used to be. Children without siblings are no longer looked down upon and frowned on. Although the stereotypes are still there, most of them are being proven wrong everyday. Only children are just as intelligent, sensitive, and friendly as any other child. While it is convenient to have a full time playmate around, some children will tell you they’re completely satisfied being an only. Having one child is becoming the norm these days and I definitely believe it will be looked upon in a positive way from now into the future.